Case Study
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GO-Live Date
January 24, 2024
Trusted Web Experts
Charlie Stanley
Web Solutions Architect
Caleigh Pickard
Project Manager
Martha Stopa
Design Strategy
Anna Stopa
Layout Design
Joanna Velasquez
Content Strategy & Integration
Katie Morman
Content Visualization
Mehran Aziz
Web Developer
Callum Creed
Quality Assurance
Lydia Burris
Illustrated Footer
Leanna Thesken
Marketing & Case Study
Michael Confalone
Training & Website Launch
Deanna Frimann
Resource Allocation
Overview
About
Wood County electric Cooperative (WCEC) is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable electric service while enhancing the communities they serve. With a mission centered around service excellence, integrity, and community care, WCEC sought to extend these values into their online presence. This ambition led to a partnership with Powerful. The collaboration was aimed at reimagining WCEC’s website to mirror their commitment to innovation, community service, and member engagement.
Crafting a Custom Blueprint
At the heart of the redesign was the creation of a custom blueprint tailored to WCEC’s specific goals: presenting themselves as a modern, forward-thinking cooperative while promoting the use of online tools. A feature of this custom blueprint was the introduction of a dedicated outage information section on the homepage. This provides immediate access to critical updates, reducing the volume of phone calls and inquiries. The custom blueprint’s flexible framework facilitated a collaborative approach between WCEC and Powerful, allowing for a deep dive into WCEC’s messaging strategy. Through discussions and feedback sessions, WCEC and Powerful were able to refine the website’s content and visual elements to communicate the cooperative’s mission of service excellence and community support.
A Modern Yet Welcoming Online Presence
The commitment to presenting WCEC as modern and forward-thinking was intergrated throughout the redesign. Powerful’s innovative approach to the overall branding, color scheme, and visual elements underscores WCEC’s dedication to progress and excellence. Unlike the impersonal feel often associated with modern corporate designs, the website’s aesthetic is warm and welcoming. The illustrated footer, in particular, stands out as a distinctive element that captures the charm of WCEC’s community. It incorporates subtle nods to the unique characteristics of the community WCEC serves, grounding the website’s modern aesthetics in local relevance and familiarity. This thoughtful design approach ensures that members feel a sense of belonging and familiarity from the moment they visit the site, reinforcing WCEC’s role as an integral part of their daily lives.
This project showcases the power of collaboration in achieving a design that serves as a bridge between tradition and innovation, effectively supporting WCEC’s vision of providing reliable service while caring for and improving the communities they serve.
Challenges
The initiative to enhance the accessibility of WCEC's website was driven by a clear objective: to create an inclusive online experience that accommodates all members of the community, including those with disabilities. This undertaking presented a multifaceted challenge, requiring a balance between aesthetic appeal and functional accessibility. Achieving this meant addressing a range of accessibility concerns, from visual impairments to motor disabilities.Solutions
To address these challenges, Powerful leveraged its expertise in accessible web design, focusing on innovative solutions that would make WCEC's website more navigable, readable, and interactive for all members. By implementing enhanced print functionality, we made sure visitors needing or preferring printed materials could easily access clear, well-formatted information directly from the website. We introduced keyboard-navigable landing tiles to enable mouse-free navigation, assisting visitors with motor disabilities in exploring the site effortlessly. Further improving accessibility, we added alt-tags to all images, providing text alternatives for visitors with visual impairments, thereby making the site more inclusive and visitor-friendly for a diverse audience.Results
WCEC's new website marks a significant step forward in online accessibility, setting a new standard for how utility cooperatives can serve their communities online. The introduction of accessibility features has made it easier for all members of the community to access important information and services, reinforcing WCEC's commitment to inclusivity and support.Mobile gallery
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Quotes
Team Comments
I find immense pride in overseeing a website transformation that not only enhances visitor experience but also reflects a commitment to serving their community. Wood County Electric Cooperative's new website does just that. Their illustrated footer beautifully encapsulates their expansive service territory, symbolizing their dedication to powering connections across their region.
Project Manager
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